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FAQ: Microenvironment-Responsive Hydrogel for Infected Wound Repair
TL;DR
Fudan University's hydrogel technology offers a competitive edge in wound care by achieving over 90% wound closure in 14 days, outperforming standard treatments for complex wounds.
The hydrogel uses sodium alginate and carboxymethyl chitosan to sense pH changes, releasing antibacterial tannic acid in acidic environments and regenerative zinc ions in alkaline conditions.
This intelligent hydrogel reduces drug overuse and frequent dressing changes, improving patient outcomes for diabetic ulcers and surgical infections while promoting better healing.
A smart hydrogel from Fudan University acts like a doctor, switching from fighting infection to tissue repair based on wound pH changes in real-time.
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The research describes a hydrogel that can sense pH changes in wound environments and automatically switch its therapeutic function from antibacterial action during infection to tissue regeneration during healing, enabling precise stage-specific treatment.
In acidic wound environments typical during infection, the gel contracts and releases tannic acid to kill bacteria and reduce oxidative stress. As healing progresses and pH becomes more alkaline, the gel expands and gradually releases zinc and calcium ions that promote angiogenesis and tissue regeneration.
The hydrogel is constructed from an interpenetrating network of sodium alginate and carboxymethyl chitosan, loaded with tannic acid (a natural antibacterial agent) and zinc-doped bioactive glass (which releases healing-promoting ions).
In preclinical rat models with infected wounds, the hydrogel achieved over 90% wound closure in just 14 days, significantly outperforming standard treatments, with histological analysis showing enhanced collagen deposition, reduced inflammation, and improved blood vessel formation.
The hydrogel doesn't just cover wounds but understands what's happening and responds in real-time by adapting to each healing stage, remaining inert in healthy tissue and activating only under pathological conditions.
Benefits include precise stage-specific control of treatment, reduced drug overuse, limited need for frequent dressing changes, and significantly improved healing outcomes, making it especially promising for complex wounds like diabetic foot ulcers or post-surgical infections.
The technology was developed by a research team from Fudan University led by Prof. Xiangchao Meng, with the research published in Biomedical Technology journal.
The team is now exploring clinical translation and broader applications, viewing this as a step toward intelligent wound management where materials can listen to the body and respond accordingly.
The research is published in Biomedical Technology journal with DOI: 10.1016/j.bmt.2025.100120, which serves as the original source URL.
Curated from 24-7 Press Release
